The company:
Williams’ core competencies are the design and development of racing cars to compete in the Formula One World Championship. As one of the world's leading Formula One teams, the company has secured 16 FIA Formula One World Championship titles since its foundation in 1977 and is now moving into an exciting era under new ownership defined by relentless innovation and living sustainable performance in every dimension.
An exciting opportunity exists for a Senior Communications Manager (F1) to join the Communications team, supporting the Head of Communication in the execution of communications relating to Williams Racing’s Formula 1 activities.
This role will include working with the Head of Communications to devise and deliver innovative, data-driven and measurable international PR strategies to promote Williams Racing to its target audiences, and managing and motivating a small team to deliver best-in-class trackside comms operations. Extensive international travel and attendance at around 20 races and events a year is required for this role.
We are looking for a highly-motivated, hard-working and self-starting team player with extensive experience who wants to play a leading role in communicating Williams Racing’s exciting mission to return to the front of the grid.
As a Senior Communications Manager (F1) you will be responsible for:
Management and Delivery:
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Leading the development and implementation of brand-first communications for team’s F1 activities. This includes developing strategies, crafting messaging and generating innovative ideas to raise awareness and consideration of Williams Racing among target audiences
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Building and leveraging impeccable relationships with the motorsport media to protect and promote the team’s reputation. Ensuring positive media sentiment and volume of coverage though identifying, planning, pitching and distributing stories and narratives to the media in a timely manner. This includes maintaining and being ready to execute crisis management plans
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Leading a small team to deliver a best-in-class service to media in motorsport and other segments, including trackside comms operations
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Planning and organising comms team race attendance across the season to ensure appropriate coverage at each race
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Planning and co-ordinating across teams to deliver impactful season/car launches
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Collaborating closely with team senior leadership, race team and wider marketing department including partnerships to ensure clear, consistent and impactful communications at races and throughout the season
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Helping to build a high-performance culture at all levels of the team through inspirational and motivational line management and a commitment to developing people
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In conjunction with Head of Communications, and linked to the wider business and marketing plans, create an annual plan of PR and communications activity focused on key markets and across both racing and lifestyle strands of communication
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Directly line managing and developing two Communications Managers, and working across the comms team to deliver best-in-class communications.
Formula 1 communications:
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Enhancing core PR plan with special activations around key races (particularly the US and UK)
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Working closely with spokespeople, race drivers and reserve drivers on key messaging and communications management including scheduling and trackside activities
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Assistance where required with partner PR activities
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Overseeing creation and maintenance of team media kit and FAQs
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Press release drafting and issuing – English language – race weekend releases plus ad hoc news and announcements
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Reactive and proactive media liaison
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Liaison with F1 central PR operation and other relevant departments and contacts, including Netflix for Drive to Survive
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Managing on-event team PR operation
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Liaison with appointed photographers / videographers / other relevant suppliers where required
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Attendance at races and key events – around 20 per year
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Maintain crisis management and trackside incident plans – in conjunction with relevant Williams Management Committee members
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Production of regular evaluation reports to analyse impact of communication and ensure return on investment
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Work in conjunction with social media, content and partnerships departments to ensure alignment on content and messaging
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Management of Team Ambassadors (currently Jenson Button) including at trackside
What we are looking for from our Senior Communications Manager (F1):
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A highly-motivated, hard-working and self-starting team player with extensive experience who wants to play a leading role in communicating Williams Racing’s exciting mission to return to the front of the grid
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Experience working in F1 or motorsport communications would be advantageous, but experience working in a similar field and managing others is essential
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Demonstrable evidence of working well under pressure and/or in a crisis, able to make good judgments and decisions including quickly changing and adapting plans on the go
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Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience of collaborating with diverse stakeholders in an ambiguous setting to deliver successful outcomes
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Excellent attention to detail and a high level of organisational ability, able to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines with, sometimes a changeable set of priorities.
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Demonstrable ability to cultivate highly-effective working relationships at all levels of an organisation with a wide range of groups and disciplines.
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Able to provide and receive constructive feedback and act on this with a genuine desire to improve their own and their colleague’s performance.
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Resilient and tenacious, able to work at pace and adapt to change.
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Demonstrates a solution-focussed approach and is proactive in resolving any challenge that they are faced with.
What can Williams offer?
The Williams Group is based in multi acre complex located in Grove, Oxfordshire. The Williams Group offers a competitive holiday package, staff events/open days, a subsidised restaurant on site and various car schemes. We have an on-site gym (open 24 hours a day) as well as various fitness classes including outdoors bootcamps, pilates and yoga free for all staff and contractors to use. Aside from these benefits we can offer free onsite parking and large open green spaces to unwind during breaks. We are a based just 30 mins from Oxford City Centre by bus.
Williams is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are happy to discuss reasonable job adjustments